400 participate in Hangover Handicap
<p>Mike Lee of Coeur d'Alene runs with his son, Daniel, during the last section of the 39th Annual Hangover Handicap 5-mile run on Friday in Coeur d'Alene. The father-son duo has done the event five times.</p>
<p>Austin Stone, left, who is blind, walks quickly with his personal trainer Matt Grogan on Friday at the 39th Annual Hangover Handicap 5-mile fun run. Stone has been blind for six years, and him and Grogan finished the run in one hour and 14 minutes.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — The sun broke through the fog in downtown Coeur d'Alene at 9:30 a.m., just as Tesh Inc.'s Hangover Handicap fun run began, giving what little warmth it could to runners.
Despite the 12-degree temperature on Friday morning, most of the 410 participants dressed in light running gear and a couple people even wore shorts.
Kyle Wimpenny of Post Falls was wearing shorts and toe shoes with holes in the bottom. He stood shivering near the only working outdoor heater behind Michael D's Eatery on Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive where the 5-mile run was set to start.
"They're running shorts, so I figured it was fitting for today," Wimpenny said. "And I wore them last year, so you know, keeping up tradition."
He said he did pretty good the previous year, coming in 14th place, but was concerned about the packed snow on the trail this year — he came in third at 32 minutes, 10 seconds.
This was the 39th annual Hangover Handicap, which is held every year on New Year's Day. This year's run marks the 40th anniversary of Tesh, a nonprofit that serves people with disabilities and helps them with life skills training and employment. Most of its funds come from events such as the Hangover Handicap. Frances Huffman, Tesh CEO, said event T-shirts this year were decorated with tie-dye, peace signs and flowers in honor of Tesh's 1970s origin.
"It's also one of those events that has been around so long that it's sort of a celebratory thing of 'Yes, Tesh is still here,'" Huffman said. "This is the way we start our year — we commemorate, or honor, what Tesh does."
Daniel Shaw of Coeur d'Alene was the first to cross the finish line. His time was 28 minutes, 58 seconds. He said it wasn't too cold, although frost had formed on his eyebrows. It was Shaw's third time at the Hangover Handicap, though he said it had been about six years since he last ran it.
"It was a good course, good temperature," he said. "It was slippery, but not bad. I brought spikes and I didn't wear them."
Bill and Laurie Robb waited by the heater for their son to finish, with Bill guessing he would make it in 29 minutes. He was off by less than two — Matt Robb finished in second place at 30 minutes, 42 seconds. Matt is from Coeur d'Alene and is a college student at the University of Great Falls in Montana. This was his first time doing the Hangover Handicap.
"It was fun," Matt said. "A bit snowy, but it's what makes running, running."
Huffman said even with the cold weather, attendance is usually very good for the Hangover Handicap. Many times, people even bring their dogs and babies in strollers.
The first baby to finish the race was 17-month-old Aleda Sleight with her mother, Jessica, around 46 minutes. The first dog to finish was a poodle named Amora Smith.
Huffman said this year Tesh started an "In Spirit" category where anyone could donate $25, get a T-shirt and stay in bed instead of running the race. She said the event is fun and garners support from the community and longtime sponsors such as Pita Pit, Windermere Real Estate, Kiwanis and Helbling Benefit Consulting.
"Thanks to so many people who always turn out to support us because it's a big encouragement to us," Huffman said.
Info: www.teshinc.com